The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 138 Someone Wants Your Life
"There's another match?" Zhang Yushuang, who had no interest in watching the spectacle, suddenly became fully alert.

"Don't be afraid, this person is after me." Shang Mingshu looked down at Zhang Yushuang, who was applying ointment to her, and said softly with a smile, "It's me, the person you've been waiting for."

Leaving Fengyang Prefecture, entering Chuzhou, and then Quanjiao County, Shang Mingshu and her group traveled for two days and two nights. Even knowing that the Shi family had taken action, she did not rush on her journey and entered Ningguo Prefecture on the third day.

"My lady, judging by the time, if we set off now, I'm afraid we won't be able to return before the city gates close," He Mu asked Shang Ming Shu, looking at the sky.

There were villages and towns along the way where they could stop, but He Mu knew that his wife was pampered and spoiled. It wasn't that she couldn't endure hardship, but that she would rather avoid it altogether.

"Let's get going. We won't enter the city tonight." Shang Mingshu didn't linger in comfort at Ningguo Mansion, because someone was waiting for her, this slippery fish, to walk right into their trap.

Tonight is also the night Shi Houqiong arranges for a prison break.

"I heard that the young lady you fear is rushing back overnight and will surely be able to enter the city before dawn." In the Shi family mansion, Chi Wulang, the leader of the Japanese pirates who came to assist Shi Houqiong this time, sat in a chair and wiped his long sword.

Shi Houqiong sat upright with her eyes closed, her ten fingers interlaced, her thumb moving gently in a rhythmic motion.

Chi Wulang shifted his foot onto the chair, leaned back, and faced Shi Houqiong: "The men you sent did not stop her, nor were they even slightly injured. Instead, two of them were captured alive."

Shi Houqiong turned a deaf ear to Ike Goro's mockery.

Goro Ike stood up and walked out.

Shi Houqiong opened her eyes and asked, "Where are you going?"

"Where am I going?" Ike Goro asked without stopping. "I don't need to explain to you."

He wanted to lead a group to break into the prison, but Shi Houqiong was afraid that he would lose his temper and kill Shang Jinliang and Prefect He in prison. This time, he came to assist Shi Houqiong in this operation, to replace Prefect He, and the court would send an official they had bribed to take over, so that they could arrange for people to infiltrate and control the commerce and smuggling in Huizhou Prefecture.

Shi Houqiong disrespected him in every way, praising him just as he was being promoted, but not letting him get involved in anything, which made him very angry!

Just as Shi Houqiong was about to speak up to stop him, Butler Shi hurriedly walked in, bowed to Shi Houqiong's side, and said, "Master, Du Zhong has taken the Shang sisters out of the city."

"Where is Han Ang?" Shi Houqiong asked.

The steward shook his head: "His whereabouts are unknown. Du Zhong didn't bring anyone with him."

"Where is Erlang's antidote?" Shi Houqiong pressed.

"Du Zhong said the time has come, and he will bring the antidote back to the person the master left behind." The steward lowered his head even further.

Shi Houqiong's face was cold. When he looked up, Chi Wulang was nowhere to be seen. He took a few steps to chase after him, but finally stopped. Chi Wulang had long held a grudge against him. Even if he chased after him, the more he tried to stop Chi Wulang from doing anything, the more Chi Wulang would probably oppose him.

I just hope this person isn't stupid enough to walk right into a trap!
As Chi Wulang strode out of the Shi family mansion, someone who had been waiting for a long time stepped forward with a small box. When the box was opened, the gold ingots inside were dazzlingly bright under the light of the high-hanging lanterns.

"Lord Chi, this is the deposit. My master said that if you can hold off Lady Shang, he will give you another hundred gold pieces. If you can..." The man slashed his own neck, revealing a sinister smile, "he will give you five hundred gold pieces!"

Ikegoro took the box, pressed the lid on, and weighed it in his palm: "Your master has made a lot of money from the merchants."

The man smiled obsequiously, "This humble servant is unaware... My master instructed me to remind Lord Chi that Third Madam's martial arts skills are exceptionally high..."

"Alright," Ike Goro waved his hand impatiently. "You're all so afraid of her, I have to go and see for myself just how capable she really is!"
The cold forest was shrouded in night, and the biting north wind howled, carrying snowflakes, while the bare branches wailed mournfully.

"My lady, there are people ahead." The carriage stopped, and He Mu's voice rang out immediately.

Shang Mingshu, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, her black hair tied up on top of her head with a ribbon, held a long sword in her hand, and two flintlock pistols at her waist were hidden by a thick cloak. She lifted the carriage curtain, faced the cold wind, and looked into the dimly lit distance ahead.

Snow and dust filled the air in the wind, and if it weren't for the people blocking the road with lanterns, you couldn't see any figures. The dark shadows were cast on the ground and elongated by the firelight, like sharp blades.

Shang Mingshu jumped off the carriage and walked forward under the protection of two guards. He Sui raised the lantern in her hand to illuminate Shang Mingshu, and she could barely make out the burly man in front of her with a single sword at his waist, tightly gripped by a rough hand.

"The young lady that everyone fears is actually a beautiful woman..." Chi Wulang was somewhat surprised when he saw Shang Mingshu's face. He had thought that Shang Mingshu would be a strong and resolute woman.

I never expected her to look so delicate and beautiful.

"Who are you? Why are you blocking my way?" Shang Mingshu pretended not to know the other party's background.

Although Ikegoro was a Japanese pirate, he spoke fluent Chinese, and you could not even hear any accent.

"Young lady, someone wants to take your life." Chi Wulang was still sizing up Shang Mingshu. "I cherish beauty and tenderness. If you are willing to be my woman, I will take you away from here."

"If you want me to submit to you, let's see if you can capture me." Shang Mingshu drew her sword first.

Chi Wulang's interest grew even stronger. He waved his hand, and his subordinates threw down their lanterns, drew their long swords, and rushed towards Shang Mingshu's guards.

Shang Mingshu's guards also drew their weapons and went to meet them, while He Sui retreated to the side of the carriage to protect Zhang Yushuang.

Shang Mingshu and Chi Wulang locked eyes, both with a sharp glint in their gazes.

The sword sliced ​​across the ground, sparks flying, and Shang Mingshu made the first move.

Shang Mingshu's swordsmanship was agile, her sword movements flowing like clouds and water, sometimes like a swallow skimming the sky, sometimes like a snake emerging from its hole, each move aimed directly at Chi Wulang's vital points.

Forced to retreat repeatedly, Ikegoro even suffered a bloody gash on his arm from the lightning-fast sword tip before he finally abandoned his contemptuous and careless attitude: "Excellent swordsmanship!"

With both hands gripping the sword, he switched from defense to offense, the wind from the blade whistling, domineering and fierce, the sword's movements unpredictable.

After several clashes, Shang Mingshu's palm trembled slightly. This person's strength was greater than she had ever seen. Despite his strength, it did not affect his agility. Her sword parried the single blade like a dragon swinging its tail, and the tip of the sword pointed at Chi Wulang's wrist. Chi Wulang sneered and changed his sword strike from a parry to a slash. The swords clashed, and sparks flew everywhere.

Both sides, whether it was Shang Mingshu and Chi Wulang, or Chi Wulang's subordinates and Shang Mingshu's guards, fought fiercely and were evenly matched, with no clear winner for the time being.

Cheng She, who had been following Shang Mingshu from a distance, witnessed the entire exchange between the two.

Ever since receiving the message from Huizhou Prefecture, he has been secretly protecting Shang Mingshu.

The servant beside him asked, "Second Young Master, aren't we going to make a move?"

Cheng She shook his head slightly: "Chi Wulang is no match for her."

If Shang Mingshu were no match for him, he would naturally step in to help. However, he clearly saw that Chi Wulang was no match for Shang Mingshu, so why should he interfere and make Shang Mingshu feel obligated for nothing?